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On this silent solitude, These destroyers ne'er intrude; For my father keeps this grove, Sacred to the gods above. Nor beyond this shelter'd home Dare his daughter's footsteps roam. Here then, charming stranger rest, Nila's friend, companion, guest ; With the sweetest herbs I'll feed thee, To the fairest fountains lead thee; Here in gambols, wild and gay, Let us sport our lives away, And this blooming wreath shall be Nila's pledge of love to thee, While I crown thee thus with flowers, Prince of the sequester'd bowers. Sudden as the lightning's stroke, Glances on the splintered oak, At her her touch, the Tiger sprang, With his voice the mountains rang. One wild moment, Nila stood, Then plung'd, instinctive in the flood; With a roar of thunder hollow, As the monster leap d to follow, Quick and keen, a venom'd dart, Quivered in his cruel heart. Round he reel'd, in mortal pain, Bit the barbed shaft in twain,

Groan'd and fell, and pour'd his breath,
In a hurricane of death.

Lost, as in a wond'ring dream,
Nila floated down the stream.

The conscious river, swell'd with pride,
While buoyant on its circling tide;
Light as silver shadows sail,
O'er cornfields, waving in the gale,
The gentle waters safely bore,

The panting Naiad to the shore.
Zembo from the grove emerging,
Ran to meet the rescued virgin;
Zembo, whose victorious bow,
Laid the treach'rous monster low;
Zembo, swiftest in the race,
Matchless in the savage chase;
Tall and stately, as the palm,
A storm in war, in peace a calm;
Black as midnight, without moon,
Bold and undisguis'd as noon;
Zembo, long had woo'd in vain,
But while Nila scorn'd his pain;
Love's insinuating dart,

Fled so quickly thro' her heart,
That the nymph, in all her pride,
Sigh'd, yet scarce knew why she sighed.
Now she saw, with transports sweet,
Gallant Zembo at her feet.

Tho' her trembling lips were seal'd,
Love, her hidden soul reveal'd.
Zembo read, with glad surprise,
All the secrets of her eyes.
Wild with joy, his eager arms,
Sprang to clasp her modest charms.
Startled, like the timid deer,
Nila fled, with lovely fear;
He pursu'd the nimble maid,
To the broad palmetto shade,
Here the flow'ry wreath she found,
Which the Tiger's front had crown'd;
These on Zembo's brow she twin'd,
Whispering thus, in accents kind
Noble youth, accept, tho' small,
This reward, 'tis Nila's all;
If my hero claims a higher,
Yonder, Zembo, lives my Sire!

EDITOR'S CLOSET.

"Spring Wheat" and" Botts in Horses? came too late for insertion.

"Lucidas" shall, in our next Number, have our opinion, (as he has requested it.)

A large mass of Communications, Letters, &c. are deposited in our different "departments;" some of which will appear in future Numbers, but which are neces-upon night as sarily excluded from this.

66 Fair virtue's immemorial friend."

"G." is thanked for his favours; and We present our Patrons, in this Number had they been received earlier, would have with what has been pronounced a strik been inserted. We hope he will continueingly accurate Portrait of JAMES MONto write-and we should be highly gratified by an interview with him.

"An Evening Party in Hartford," is in our files, and shall receive that attention which so interesting a subject demands.

ROE, President of the United States. We hope a view of it will enhance their pleasure, as much as it has our expences.

In our next Number, we hope to be able to furnish our readers with a brief summary of the proceedings of the Legislature

Communications upon the subject of now in session.

Ed.

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Biographical Department.

66 BIOGRAPHY-THE MIRROR THAT SHEWS US MAN.

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF

JAMES MONROE,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

(Continued from Page 80.)

[WHILE the editor feels a ful task of the voluminous biogreal gratification in learning that rapher, to present his admiring that portion of the "Biographical countrymen, and an admiring Sketch" of the President of the world with the life of this exalted United States, contained in the Scholar, Patriot, Soldier, and last Number, was well received, Statesman.] Ed.

he cannot but regret that from the haste in which it was written, fell, and the Republic rose upon When the French monarchy and the contracted limits in which it is contained, that it is so very imperfectly executed. It is not

its ruins, it might well calculate upon a reciprocation of its former sympathy in the troubles of the to be expected that the life of a subject pregnant with difficulty American Republic. It was a man so distinguished as JAMES and danger to the United States. MONROE, in the civil, military, and Indifference would have been diplomatic world, will be fully construed by the French government into ingratitude-interfer portrayed until he "reaches that ence in its behalf, would have bourne from which no traveller re-been considered, by all the other turns." It will then be the delight- European governments, as a de

VOL. I.

14

in 1794.

claration of war against them. duct, equally upright and honourThe penetrating sagacity of Wash-able, as all his previous conduct ington, saw the gathering storm. had been, was to meet with the Aware that it would require all the severe animadversions of a great wisdom and all the energy of the party among his fellow citizens. American councils to conciliate Washington, during the residence the French Republic, without be- of Mr. MONROE in France, was coming a party in the tremen- at the head of the American addous contest in which it was then ministration. He was the life's engaged, he determined to ap- blood of the Republic. His sancpointa minister plenipotentiary to tion to measures, and his approthe court of the Republic. bation of men, gave to the one Unknown to Mr. MONROE; importance-to the other reputaunsought by his numerous and tion. His disapprobation, renpowerful friends, and unexpect- dered both unpopular with Amered by them all, he received the icans. He recalled Mr. MONROE, appointment of minister plenipo- and issued his celebrated proclatentiary to the French Republic, mation of neutrality. From that time commenced the coldness of When he arrived at that court, the French court toward the he was surrounded by a people American Republic; from that whose skill in diplomacy, is equal-time commenced the unfounded led only by their prowess in the clamour in America, against field. Those who participated in JAMES MONROE. The letter rethe high excitement of the public calling him was written by Timofeeling at this period, can best thy Pickering, then Secretary of judge of the difficulty of the du- State, and contained an implied ty the American Minister had to censure of his diplomatic condischarge. The writer of this duct. The injunction in the letsketch can judge only from read-ter was immediately obeyed, and ing its history. The dignity and Mr. MONROE returned, after nearindependence of his native coun-ly three years of assiduous duty try he never would sacrifice, nor rendered his country at the even affect. The friendship and French court. amity of the French Republic he His feelings upon this occasion, sought to secure, if it could be can be better imagined than desecured by measures compatible scribed. He had served with with the honour of his own coun- Washington in the "tented field;" try. he had acted with him in the naHitherto, Mr. MONROE had tional councils; by him he had reaped an abundant reward for been nominated to the high office his incessant devotion to the cause of an ambassador, and by him of his native land, in the thank-was removed from it with implifulness and approbation of his ed disapprobation of his conduct. countrymen. But the time had At such a period, in the life of a now come, when his official con-high public character, nothing

but conscious integrity can im- of censure were instantly changpart to a man self respect, and ed into the mild and cheering acinternal tranquillity. cents of approbation. Washing

Upon his return to America, ton, although like the greatest he was received at New-York, men, he might be led to censure Philadelphia, and in his native through misapprehension; yet state, also the native state of he never would approve without Washington, with every demon- the clearest evidence of merit, stration of undiminished respect. declared "HE STILL BELIEVED He found his countrymen divided JAMES MONROE TO BE AN HONEST into two great political sects, MAN." Mr. MONROE's respect called the Republican and Fede- for that great man remained unral parties. The former approv- diminished, to the day when, by ed, and the latter disapproved of the king of terrors, he was renhis conduct as ambassador. Al- dered as immortal as his own though Mr. MONROE had been too glory. long in public life to be enervated The approbation bestowed upby commendation, or intimidated on the recalled minister, was not by censure, he knew full well that unmeaning applause, which that the sentence of the Ameri- is unaccompanied with some subcan people gave to their public stantial tokens of respect; for he characters the most exalted re- was again, by the nomination of putation; that the same sentence his immediate predecessor, JAMES sunk them to a state of the most MADISON, elected governour of humiliating neglect. He could Virginia, by the legislature of not have said, with the greatest that state. He filled this station orator of the eighteenth century during the constitutional term of "Popularity is often acquired three years; and at the close of without merit, and lost without a it received, what is believed to fault, and the head that is to day have been received by no other made giddy by the applause of the governour in the union, an unanpopulace, is to-morrow stuck upon imous vote of thanks from both a pole." Had he, by a single, act branches of the legislature. in his official station, affected the Mr. MONROE, having from his honour or independence of the minority to this period of his life, country he represented, silence alternately served his native state would have been the dictate of and the whole Republic in the policy, and sullen insolence the most exalted and responsible staweapon to repel his assailants. tions in the home departmentBut, founded upon the rock of having performed an arduous tour conscious integrity, and knowing of duty in a diplomatic character that his countrymen, though jeal-at a foreign court, he had secured ous were also generous, he im- the confidence of all his countrymediately presented to them "A men, excepting that part of them VIEW OF HIS MISSION TO FRANCE." whose political intolerance induThe hoarse and dissonant notes ces some to withhold the meed of

praise, and the sentence of ap- of the administration, induced probation, when they are con- him to resort to negociation. scious it is deserved. Mr. MONROE, in 1803, was sent Mr. MONROE, directly after the as envoy extraordinary, and mintermination of his gubernatorial ister plenipotentiary to the court station in Virginia, was again cal- of France upon this momentous led to support the rights of his subject. However arduous the country at a foreign court. Lou-duty devolved upon him by this isiana had been ceded to France appointment, it must have been by Spain. The right of deposite grateful to his feelings. Without at New-Orleans had been secu- doing violence to propriety, JAMES red to the American Republic, MONROE may be called the by the latter power; and the right dian genius of the Mississippi. In was suppressed in a manner, and the old congress, he first brought at a time, calculated to excite a his countrymen to reflect upon ferment in the public mind, which the incalculable value of this riscarce any other event could ver to the American Republic. have produced. In the Virginia convention, he

guar

The free navigation of the displayed all the energy of his river Mississippi, is of almost capacious mind upon this all imequal importance with that of the portant subject; and in his preAtlantic ocean to the American vious mission to France, it was States. To the immense and fer- incidentally brought into discustile region of the western states sion. Upon this subject, he was and territories, its importance is at home."

invaluable. It is their great high- His appointment as ambassa way to the ocean, and without dor, to negociate upon this subthe use of its waters, the rapidly ject at the Court of St. Cloud, rising importance of this portion evinced the political sagacity and of the Republic would not only deep penetration, which Mr. Jefbe checked, but would be almost ferson was acknowledged by all annihilated. to possess. It cannot now be deFrance, being in possession of termined how successful any other Louisiana, and commanding the negociator might have been, at mouth of this river, the suppres- the artful court of France; but sion of the right of deposite at it may fairly be presumed that New-Orleans, the great depot of the personal influence of Mr. this majestic stream, excited ap- Monroe, from his previous diploprehensions that the French gov-matic character in that country, ernment were about to cut off the induced that government to grant commercial pursuits of the wes-to this country, what perhaps it tern states. The people of Ameri- would not have granted through ca were convulsed with indigna- the medium of any other Amerition, and many exclaimed, with can diplomatist. Be this as it may, an ancient Roman, "My voice is it is now universally acknowledg still for war." The pacific policy ed, that the cession of Louisiana, of Mr. Jefferson, then at the head was one of the most important ac

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